Akron police arrest, charge man in cat-kicking video

AKRON -- Police tell WKYC That they have arrested the man caught on video kicking a cat several feet in the air.

Police arrested and charged Tre'vonte Mitchell, 18, from East Akron.

Police say they confronted him Tuesday after their investigation.

Police say Mitchell and another man were walking near the University of Akron and they saw a cat.

Mitchell told police that it wasn't an actual kick but that he just put his foot underneath and flung it in the air, but he did say he made a dumb mistake and is remorseful.

Police say they don't believe the cat belonged to anyone, that it was just a stray.

In a release, police said Akron Police Detectives, along with Law Enforcement Officers from the Humane Society, identified and charged him. Mitchell was seen in a video that was posted on Facebook kicking a cat.

Mitchell admits that he and Roy Hill, whose Facebook page the video had been posted, were walking on Buchtel Avenue when they came across the stray cat. He does not know why he did it but regrets his actions. He states that the incident occurred a few days before it was posted on Facebook.

Investigators state that Mitchell is very remorseful for his actions and was very cooperative with them. He has been summoned to appear in court at 1 p.m. Friday (Aug. 15)

The charge is a misdemeanor of the first degree which carries a penalty of up to a $1,000 fine and/or six months in jail.

Police Capt Daniel D. Zampelli doesn't think it will get to that since he has no prior record.